Timing Belt on a '90 Talon TSi

[NOT THE BLUE LAMPSHADE]

We've been working on my friends Talon for the past 2 days using vFaq to replace the timing belt on his car. We all set to get the belt in but when we apply the tension to it, the exhaust gear always moves 1 tooth off of time. We've tried everything we can find to get it to stay but it won't. I've looked all over for tips on doing this and nothing's really helping. Just wondering if anyone has any helpful tips or tricks to get this bastard to stay in time.
Thanks,

-Tom

[NOT THE BLUE LAMPSHADE]

we also dont have the tensioner tool that vfaq reccommends using.

[johnson]

you mean to get the piston in???
use any vise thats big enough...

or are you talkin about the pulley thing???
i always use a small flat head screwdriver to push up...
make sure your bolt is tight enough to tighten quickly yet loose enough to still be ablke to move with your tool...

i know it sucks with no pics but i hope some of this helps...



next time you set it, set the left one down one tooth, and when it sets, it should be on...

[iceminion]

vice grips holding the intake and the exhaust together (WITH A RAG) seem to work out great for me.

You can do it without the mitsubishi pully tool, it cost me about $10 off ebay, and I have since done about 20 timing belt jobs, all with ease.

Other tips I have are to:
-remove the upper motor mount, and support the engine with a jack, thus giving you more space to move around (I have huge hands)
-Get a BS delete kit, lining up 3 timing gears instead of 4 (+1front bs) makes it a snap
-make sure to have a good tensioner, make sure to have clean, oil free bolts.
-you do not need a torque wrench to set the timing, but I bought one, makes me sleep better at night.

I have never had a timing-related failure (yet) the closest thing to a failure is some cock-sucker loosening my adjustable timing gears! no bent valves...i think.

[iceminion]

Where u located? give me $20 and ill do it for you, show you how to do it correctly(will not work in sub-freezing garage)

[asshanson]

I thought there was a tip in VFAQ that says to align the exhaust gear to what looks like almost a tooth too far clockwise, because the tensioner will tighten the belt causing the exhaust cam to move about a half turn counter clockwise.

This approach worked for me first time I ever did a timing belt.

[xveganxcowboyx]

I like to misalign the timing marks a little in the opposite direction from the way it pulls. So if the exhaust cam ends up 1/2 a tooth counter clockwise after you tension it you need to put the belt on so the exhaust cam is 1/4 tooth clockwise/below aligned and the intake cam is 1/4 tooth clockwise/above perfect side to side to side. Then when you tighten the belt they will align. So instead of putting the exhaust cam at exactly 3:00 and the intake at exactly 9:00, put them at 2:45 and 9:15.

[Goat Blower]

I use spring loaded plastic grips from Menards to hold the belt to each cam gear. And always make sure you use a straight edge to verify the timing marks line up with the center of the bolts. I don't know how many I've seen done wrong since you can't look straight at it from the side with the motor in the car. One tooth off can make a performance difference.

[NOT THE BLUE LAMPSHADE]

well we kept trying with offsetting the cams about a tooth off of each other, it still kept not working, but well probably get it

and iceminion, im out in laramie, wy, so sure, $20, why not, just drive the 1100 miles out here, haha, jk thanks though

[95talonracer]

Start the belt install on the exhaust cam gear and then work your way around clickwise keeping every part of the belt tight from there and you should not end up with slack and misaligned marks anywhere.